Ventilation fan system with advanced chromatherapy controls

ABSTRACT

According to an aspect of this disclosure, a ventilation and lighting system including a main housing having an inlet opening and a discharge opening, a blower and motor assembly disposed within a housing and operable to move air through the inlet and outlet, a grille configured to be located at the inlet opening, the grille having a cavity and a plate defining a plurality of apertures through which air may move, and one or more lighting elements arranged within the cavity and an optical component covering the cavity. The system is arranged such that light developed by the one or more lighting elements mixes within the cavity and transmits through the optical component covering the cavity, and the system further includes a controller that coordinates operation of the blower and motor assembly and the one or more lighting elements from a remote location.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. utility patentapplication Ser. No. 17/584,575, filed Jan. 26, 2022, U.S. utilitypatent application Ser. No. 17/148,774, filed Jan. 14, 2021, U.S.utility patent application Ser. No. 16/419,968, filed May 22, 2019 andU.S. provisional patent application No. 62/675,045, entitled“VENTILATION FAN SYSTEM WITH ADVANCED CHROMATHERAPY CONTROLS”, filed May22, 2018, the entire disclosure thereof being hereby incorporated byreference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present subject matter relates to a ventilation systems and, inparticular, to a ventilation system having lighting elements, namelymulti-colored lighting elements intended to provide chromatherapybenefits to people in the room or area in which the ventilation systemis installed.

BACKGROUND

Often times, users, e.g., homeowners, decorators, designers,contractors, include both fans/ventilation systems and lighting elementsin rooms. It may be desirable to combine fans/ventilation systems, suchas bathroom fans, with lighting elements. Combination of thesecomponents may realize efficiencies, such as shared electricalconnections and shared cut-outs into adjacent structure (e.g. a wall ora ceiling). Further, a grille covering a fan/ventilation system providesboth aesthetic and functional value. Facilitating customization ofgrille sizes, shapes, colors, and other features of fan/ventilationsystems may be desirable for users.

With widespread adoption of smartphones and mobile devices forimplementation of smart home and internet of things (IoT) functionality,users are provided with more opportunities to connect to and controltheir environment. Remote operation of a ventilation and lighting systemmay also be desirable for users.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the disclosure, a ventilation fan system witha multi-colored lighting subsystem for chromatherapy is integratedtherein. This combined ventilation and chromatherapy system includes oneor more microprocessors and one or more user interfaces, such as awall-mounted controller and/or a mobile application controller, tofacilitate adjustment of lighting characteristics, such as color andintensity of light produced by the lighting system and output throughthe ventilation fan system. The combined ventilation and lighting systemallows users to adjust both fan function and lighting settings, as wellas service the controller, including accessing a control unit therein,without the need to interact with pre-existing household wiring.According to an aspect of the disclosure, ventilating fan systems mayinclude one or more lighting elements incorporated therein as well ascustomizable shapes, sizes, patterns, and other exterior features.Customizable features of the ventilating fan systems may be manipulatedsuch that the ventilating fan systems match and/or complement theenvironment wherein same are disposed.

Other aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will becomeapparent upon consideration of the following detailed description andthe attached drawings wherein like numerals designate like structuresthroughout the specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide furtherunderstanding and are incorporated in and constitute a part of thisspecification, illustrate disclosed embodiments and together with thedescription serve to explain the principles of the disclosedembodiments. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view from below of one embodiment of aventilation and lighting system comprising a fan, a housing, a grille,and one or more lighting elements;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view from above of a rear side of the ventilationand lighting system of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the ventilation and lighting system ofFIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 is a plan view from below of the ventilation and lighting systemof FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the ventilation and lighting systemof FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 6 is a plan view from below of the ventilation and lighting systemof FIG. 1 with an opaque diffuser lens omitted such that the one or morelighting elements are visible;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view from below of the grille shown in FIG. 6 ;

FIG. 8 is a partially exploded isometric view from above of the grilleshown in FIG. 6 ;

FIG. 9 is an isometric view from below of the ventilation and lightingsystem of FIG. 1 comprising a second embodiment grille having anaperture pattern different from the grille depicted in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 10 is a plan view from below of the ventilation and light system ofFIG. 9 ;

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of a wall-mounted controller for operatingthe ventilation and lighting systems shown in FIGS. 1-10 ;

FIG. 12 is an elevational view of the wall-mounted controller of FIG. 11as same would be mounted within a wall remote from the associatedventilation and lighting systems shown in FIGS. 1-10 ;

FIG. 13 is an isometric view from behind of the wall-mounted controllerof FIG. 11 such that mounting components are shown;

FIG. 14 is a rear elevational view of the wall-mounted controller ofFIG. 11 ;

FIG. 15 is an exploded view of the wall-mounted controller of FIG. 11 ;

FIG. 16 is a control diagram illustrating setup and operation of acontrol program for managing the ventilation and lighting systems shownin FIGS. 1-10 ;

FIG. 17 is a control diagram illustrating scene control for managing theventilation and lighting systems shown in FIGS. 1-10 ;

FIG. 18 is a control diagram illustrating lighting settings control formanaging the ventilation and lighting systems shown in FIGS. 1-10 ;

FIG. 19 is a control diagram illustrating fan control for managing theventilation and lighting systems shown in FIGS. 1-10 ;

FIG. 20 is a control diagram illustrating new scene generation formanaging the ventilation and lighting systems shown in FIGS. 1-10 ;

FIG. 21 is a control diagram illustrating settings and feedback controlfor managing the ventilation and lighting systems shown in FIGS. 1-10 ;

FIG. 22 depicts a mobile application icon for initializing an examplecontrol program, such as the control program detailed with reference toFIGS. 16-21 , through a mobile device user interface;

FIG. 23 depicts “welcome” and “setup” user interfaces of an example ofthe control program of FIG. 22 ;

FIG. 24 depicts a menu screen of the control program of FIG. 22 ;

FIG. 25 depicts user interfaces for generating a new scene with thecontrol program of FIG. 22 ;

FIG. 26 depicts fan control user interfaces of the control program ofFIG. 22 ;

FIG. 27 depicts brightness control user interfaces of the controlprogram of FIG. 22 ;

FIG. 28 depicts user interfaces for selecting a custom color with thecontrol program of FIG. 22 ;

FIG. 29 depicts example user interfaces for setup and initiation of anexample control program;

FIG. 30 depicts example user interfaces for lighting settings of thecontrol program of FIG. 29 ;

FIG. 31 depicts example user interfaces for fan settings of the controlprogram of FIG. 29 ;

FIG. 32 depicts example user interfaces for color settings of thecontrol program of FIG. 29 ;

FIG. 33 depicts example user interfaces for scene settings of thecontrol program of FIG. 29 ;

FIG. 34 depicts example user interfaces for mobile applications settingsof the control program of FIG. 29 ;

FIG. 35 depicts example user interfaces for mobile device pairing of amobile device executing the control program of FIG. 29 to theventilation and lighting systems shown in FIGS. 1-10 ;

FIG. 36 depicts example user interfaces for mobile device pairing of amobile device executing the control program of FIG. 29 to theventilation and lighting systems shown in FIGS. 1-10 ; and

FIG. 37 depicts example user interfaces for troubleshooting a connectionof a mobile device executing the control program of FIG. 29 to theventilation and lighting systems shown in FIGS. 1-10 .

In one or more implementations, not all of the depicted components ineach figure may be required, and one or more implementations may includeadditional components not shown in a figure. Variations in thearrangement and type of the components may be made without departingfrom the scope of the subject disclosure. Additional components,different components, or fewer components may be utilized within thescope of the subject disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description ofvarious implementations and is not intended to represent the onlyimplementations in which the subject technology may be practiced. Asthose skilled in the art would realize, the described implementationsmay be modified in various different ways, all without departing fromthe scope of the present disclosure. Still further, modules andprocesses depicted may be combined, in whole or in part, and/or divided,into one or more different parts, as applicable to fit particularimplementations without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regardedas illustrative in nature and not restrictive.

A ventilation and lighting system 100 is described herein with referenceto FIGS. 1-10 . The ventilation and lighting system 100 (or illuminatedventilation apparatus 100; such terms having been used interchangeablyherein throughout) comprises a fan 102, a housing 104, a grille 106, adischarge port 108, and one or more lighting elements 110. The one ormore lighting elements 110, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 , are preferablylight emitting diodes (LEDs) 112 disposed on one or more printed circuitboards (PCBs) 114. The lighting elements 110 can, however, be any otherknown lighting elements. The one or more lighting elements 110 directlight through an optical component 116 disposed about the grille 106. Inexample embodiments, the optical component 116 is an opaque diffuserlens configured as a rounded rectangle with an interior cutout 118 tofit the grille 106 such that the optical component 116 and the grille106 together form a room-oriented surface of the ventilation andlighting system 100. In the example shown in FIGS. 1-5, 9, and 10 , theone or more lighting elements 110 are disposed within a cavity 120formed within a fan enclosure portion 122 of the housing 104. The cavity120 is configured as a trough 126 extending adjacent an outer perimeterof the grille 106 defining an interior plate 124 in which a plurality ofapertures 128 are defined to allow air to flow through the plate 124. Inthe depicted embodiments, the optical component 116 is configured tocorrespond to the shape of the trough 126 so that the optical component116 encloses the cavity 120 with the one or more lighting elements 110therein. As a result, light is generated within the cavity 120 andtransmitted through the optical component 116 into an adjacent space orroom in which the ventilation and lighting system 100 is installed. Inother embodiments, the cavity 120 could be comprised of a plurality ofdiscrete cavities located in the grille 106 with each cavity 120 housingone or more lighting elements 110 and having an associated opticalcomponent 116. FIGS. 9 and 10 depict another example of the grille 106comprising a differing pattern of apertures 128 in the central plate124.

A wall-mounted controller 200 is described herein with reference toFIGS. 11-15 . In example embodiments, the wall-mounted controller 200operates the ventilation and lighting system 100 shown in FIGS. 1-10according to a control program and/or system 230 shown and describedherein throughout, but with particular reference to FIGS. 16-37 . Thecontrol program/system 230 comprises algorithms, processes, logic, anduser interfaces for operating the ventilation and lighting system 100automatically, in response to user inputs, and/or according topre-programmed functions. FIG. 12 is an elevational view of thewall-mounted controller of FIG. 11 as same would be mounted within awall and located remote from an associated ventilation and lightingsystem such as those depicted in FIGS. 1-10 . The depicted wall-mountedcontroller 200 features an arrangement of switches 202. According to anexample embodiment, a first toggle 204 controls the functionality of awhite light source from among the lighting element(s) 110. A secondhorizontal toggle 206 vertically aligned beneath the second toggle 204may implement dimming control for the one or more of the light elements110. The wall-mounted controller 200 also comprises a third toggle 208for implementing color control. The third toggle 208 is arrangedvertically below and adjacent to the second, dimmer control toggle 206.The third, color control switch 208 may operate according to an on/offfunction, provide color adjustment, provide color sweep rate adjustment,and/or facilitate scene selection. The third switch 208 may beprogramming dependent such that in varying examples of the wall-mountedcontroller 200 the third switch 208 facilitates differing functionalitysuitable for varying applications of the ventilation and lighting system100. As a result, the third switch 208 may operate as a toggle oraccording to another principle. The controller 200 also comprises a fancontrol toggle 210 arranged vertically below and adjacent to the thirdswitch 208. The fan control toggle 210 adjusts the speed of the fan 102and/or switch the fan 102 between on and off states. Additionally, acountdown timer may be implemented as a secondary function of any one ofthe toggle switches 204, 206, 208, 210. For example, depressing one ofthe switches 202 for a predetermined time period may activate acountdown timer. Also, in examples, depressing different ones of theswitches 202 for predetermined time periods may activate countdowntimers for different controlled components (e.g. the fan 102, thelighting element(s) 110) or countdown timers of differing length. Thecountdown timer may operate to switch the fan 102 and/or lightingelement(s) 110 between on and off states after a preset time limit.Additionally, the wall-mounted controller 200 provide an intuitiveinterface for user operation of primary control functions through singlemomentary actuation and advanced control through sustained actuation ofthe switches 202 alone and in predetermined combinations.

FIGS. 13-15 depict one or more mounting components by which thewall-mounted controller 200 may be mounted within a wall and/or ceilingand operatively connected to an electrical source such as 120V gridpower, for example, or another suitable power source (e.g., battery,photovoltaic cell, etc.). Internal structural and electrical componentsof the controller 200 are shown in FIG. 15 . The wall-mounted controller200 includes a housing 212 with a front cover 214 that allows for useraccess to the switch arrangement 202 and a rear cover 216. Thewall-mounted controller 200 further comprises an internal isolationhousing 218 that stores a control unit and a battery power source 222.The isolation housing 218 is adapted to isolate the internal components,namely the control unit, from elements in the wall, including livepowerlines. In another example embodiment, the battery power source 222may be omitted and another power source may be substituted therefor,such as a wired connection to grid power.

The isolation housing 218 may be configured to prevent a user fromtouching live household wiring when accessing the control unit and theother components within the wall-mounted controller 200. The isolationhousing 218 also facilitates maintenance of the control unit, which maycomprise programming, configuration, upgrading, battery replacement,and/or other desired maintenance of the wall-mounted controller 200.Servicing of conventional switches and controllers may result in theremoval of wall plate and mounting flange fasteners when accessing sucha control unit. However, the wall-mounted controller 200 contemplatedherein may be serviced by removing only the front cover 214.

The ventilation and lighting system 100 further comprises lighting, fan,and chromatherapy control features. The wall-mounted controller 200described hereinabove may be omitted and replaced with a touch screeninterface such as a resistive touch screen, capacitive touch screen,surface acoustic wave (SAW) touch screen, infrared touchscreen opticalimaging touch screen, acoustic pulse recognition touch screen, oranother suitable interface. In further example embodiments, thearrangement of switches 202 may comprise one or more rocker switches,buttons, spring-loaded toggle switches, and/or other suitable switches.Referring to FIGS. 16-37 , the control program 230 is implementedthrough one or more user interfaces 400. The control program 230 mayoperate to control and/or manage the ventilation and lighting system 100independent of, or in conjunction, with the wall-mounted controller 200detailed hereinabove. Depending upon particular applications and/orinputs, either of the one or more user interfaces 400 or thewall-mounted controller 200 may take precedence when conflicting controlinputs are received. Further, the control program 230 may coordinateand/or synchronize control of the illuminated ventilation system 100 inresponse to both the wall-mounted controller and the one or more userinterfaces 400.

The ventilation and lighting system 100 may comprise built-in sensors,such as optical sensors to detect ambient light, motion sensors (e.g.,passive infrared, microwave, ultrasonic, area reflective type,vibration), timers, moisture/humidity sensors, and/or other suitablesensors for assisting and enhancing control of the system 100 by thecontrol program 230. Such sensors may be utilized by the control program230 to suggest a specific chromatherapy protocol, suggest a scene, orotherwise as inputs to the control program 230.

The one or more lighting elements 110 disposed within the ventilationand lighting system 100 develop a plurality of lighting characteristics.In example embodiments, the one or more lighting elements 110 maydevelop different colors and intensities of light. Further, the lightingelement(s) 110 may emit different colors and/or intensities of light,such as with color LEDs. As shown in FIGS. 6-8 , the lighting elements110 are directed downward and away from the fan enclosure and towardsthe optical component 116, when the ventilation and lighting system 100is installed in a horizontal room surface, such as a ceiling. Thepresent disclosure contemplates the lighting element(s) 110 comprisingwhite and RGB LEDs (i.e., including red, green, and blue emitters).Further example embodiments may comprise RGBW LEDs (i.e. red, green,blue, and white emitters), RGBWW LEDs (i.e., red, green, blue, andwarm-white emitters; temperature controlled white color), and/or othersuitable LEDs or combinations of LEDs. In example embodiments, the LEDs112 may be individually addressable or addressable as one or morestrips. The one or more addressable strips of LEDs 112 may correlate tofirst, second, third, and fourth sides of the illuminated ventilationapparatus 100 or first, second, third, and fourth PCBs 114.

The cavity 120 wherein the lighting element(s) 110 are disposed mayfacilitate light and/or color mixing before the mixed light travelsthrough the optical component 116 disposed about the grille 106. Theoptical component 116 may further facilitate light mixing viascattering, diffusing, and/or other light mixing techniques. The opticalcomponent 116 may be an opaque diffuser lens or another opticalwaveguide with one or more mixing, diffusing, and/or light redirectingproperties according to example embodiments of the ventilation andlighting system 100. According to an example embodiment, the opticalcomponent 116 allows some of the light to transmit therethrough whileforcing some of the light to reflect within the cavity 120 between theoptical component 116 and a bottom surface of the fan enclosure 122. Inanother example, the one or more lighting elements 110 may direct lighttowards the fan enclosure 122 and, initially, away from the opticalcomponent 116. According to this example, a bottom surface of the fanenclosure 122 may be reflective such that light is reflected thereby,mixes within the cavity 120, and then exits the cavity 120 through theoptical component 116. Reflective material, paint, and/or coating may besuitable applied within the cavity 120, such as on a bottom surface ofthe fan enclosure 122, to further facilitate light and/or color mixing.This configuration may develop adequate light and/or color mixing sothat a diffuser lens may be omitted.

The ventilation and lighting system 100 may include a communicationsmodule for transmitting and receiving signals from the wall-mountedcontroller 200 and/or mobile device 232 executing the control program230. For example, the communications module may implement wirelesscommunications according to known protocols such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi,Zigbee, infrared, dedicated control wiring, signal-over-power, and/orother suitable protocols to communicate with the wall-mounted controller200 and/or mobile device 232.

The signals that are received by the communications module may beprocessed by one or more processors associated with the ventilation andlighting system 100. For example, a microprocessor may regulate thecurrent applied to the one or more lighting elements 110 or may operatea subset of the lighting element(s) 110 as directed by the controlprogram 230. It should also be understood that the microprocessor mayuse further operate to dim the lights, control flicker of the lights,and/or change other properties of the lighting element(s) 110 and/oremitted light according to instructions supplied by the control program230. The processor may be associated with one or more memory elements ofthe ventilation and lighting system 110.

User inputs received by the wall-mounted controller 200 and/or thecontrol program 230 may determine one or more of color, hue, duration,and/or light intensity according to a variety of control schemes.Likewise, user inputs may determine the run-time, power, and/or otheroperational qualities of the fan 102. Control sequences may be definedto follow a sweeping pattern of colors according to the preferences of auser. Alternatively, color patterns may be cycled randomly. Controlsequences may be defined to produce complementary hues and intensitiesaccording to orders/series that are known to encourage vitality orrelaxation. Many desirable sequences may be developed according tochromatherapy protocols or other user criteria such as mood lighting,guest lighting, night lighting, emergency lighting, lighting for showinga home/room, etc. Additionally, the color capabilities of the lightingelement(s) 110 may include monochrome or combinations of white, violet,indigo blue, aqua blue, green, yellow, orange, red, and/or other colors.The control program 230 operating in conjunction with the wall-mountedcontroller 200 and/or the mobile device(s) 232 provides for softtransition from one color to another in a predefined series. Accordingto particular control schemes, the lighting and ventilation qualities ofthe ventilation and lighting system 100 are coordinated to develop oneor more scenes or protocols. In example embodiments, the control program230 executed by the one or more mobile devices 232 may be synchronizedwith the wall-mounted controller 200. Also in examples, voice controlmay be integrated into the control program 230 via the one or moremobile devices 232 and/or the wall-mounted controller 200.

Referring now to FIGS. 16-21 , control processes 240, 260, 280, 300,320, and 340 of the control program 230 are described along withassociated ones of the user interface(s) 400. FIG. 16 is a controldiagram illustrating “setup” and “home” processes 240 of the controlprogram/system 230 for managing the ventilation and lighting system 100shown in FIGS. 1-10 . User interfaces 402, 404, 406 are encountered by afirst time user during setup of the control program/system 230. At step242, a user opens the control program 230 and follows the instructionsof the welcome user interface 402. In response to the instructions ofthe welcome user interface 402, a user connects (such as by Bluetooth™)the mobile device 230 to the ventilation and lighting system 100 duringstep 244. Following connection, a user encounters the first and second“setup” user interfaces 404, 406. The control program 230 mayautomatically configure the mobile device 232 and the illuminatedventilation system 100 or the user may be prompted to undertakeadditional initialization steps. Following initialization and setup, auser is presented with a “home” user interface 408. The “home” userinterface 408 comprises virtual buttons 410, 412, 414, 416, 418, 420associated with differing control functionality. The virtual togglebuttons 410, 412, 414 toggle their respective functions between on andoff states. The virtual toggle 410 adjusts the fan 102 between on andoff states; the virtual toggle 412 adjusts a white light subset of thelighting element(s) 110 between on and off states; and the virtualtoggle 414 adjusts scene and color control between on and off states. Asa result, the virtual toggle 414 adjusts one or more particularcolor-producing subsets of the light element(s) 110 (as directed but adefault or previously determined scene or color selection).

Additionally, the virtual toggles 410, 412, 414 are overlaid onto thevirtual buttons 416, 418, 420 for accessing advanced controls for eachof the elements respectively controlled by the toggles. The virtualbutton 416 implements user access to advanced color and scene control.The virtual button 418 for the white subset of lighting element(s) 110implements user access to brightness control (e.g., a virtual slider fordimming or increasing brightness along a 0%-100% scale). Further, thevirtual button 420 implements user access to advanced fan control (e.g.,control of fan speed and/or duration). Each of the virtual buttons410-420 is monitored in real time by real-time monitoring sensors 234disposed within a touchscreen of the one or more mobile devices 232.

Referring now to FIG. 17 , the control process 260 illustrating advancedscene control presents a user with scene control user interfaces 422,424. A plurality of scene selection virtual buttons 426 are integratedinto the scene control user interfaces. Each of the scene selectionvirtual buttons 426 initiates a scene when selected by a user. A scenecomprises coordinated lighting control, color control, and fan controldesigned in temporal synchronization to evoke particular usersentiments. Example scenes shown in FIG. 17 include “Quick Break MiniSpa”, “Energizing Morning”, and “Kid Bath Party”. Numerous qualities ofthe lighting control described herein throughout (e.g., sweep rate,correlated color temperature, color, hue, intensity, timing, saturation,etc.) may be optionally integrated within each scene. The multi-color,adjustable LED lighting elements 112 may be controlled and preset forparticular times of day, activities, or desired moods to enhance userenjoyment thereof. In example embodiments, software may automaticallyselect light colors to compensate for time of day, season, weather,and/or a number of other suitable factors. Also, a user may preselectlight hues to accentuate interior design and/or other room elements. Oneor more sensors may be incorporated into the system 100 for gatheringinformation concerning one or more factors as an input to the controlprogram 230. The light color and chromaticity control may be determinedby the quality of the lighting element(s) 110 and/or by algorithmsdefined through software. Further, the runtime and power of the fan 102(measurable by cubic feet per minute (CFM)) may be manipulated by theuser and/or incorporated into pre-programed or user generated scenes.

The scene control user interface 424 further comprises a scene settingsvirtual button 428. When a user selects the scene settings virtualbutton 428, the settings integrated into each scene may be manipulatedby a user. Further, through this interface a user may generate a newscene comprising ventilation and lighting features selected according tothe preferences of a particular user.

FIG. 18 depicts the control process 280 for accessing and manipulatingsettings for the lighting element(s) 110. Advanced lighting control userinterfaces 450, 452 comprise virtual buttons and virtual toggles.Lighting control user interface 450 comprises settings for adjustment ofa white light subset of the lighting element(s) 110. These include a“timeout” virtual toggle 454, a virtual timer selection button 456, anightlight virtual toggle 458, and a brightness virtual slider 460. Avirtual “set” button 462 saves settings selected with the other virtualbuttons of the light control user interface 450. The lighting colorcontrol user interface 452 comprises a correlated color temperaturevirtual slider 462 having an arcuate shape or depicted as a color wheel.Additionally, a current or selected correlated color temperature isdisplayed below the correlated color temperature virtual slide 462 inthe form of a red, green, blue (RGB) color code. Three numbers representabsolute values for the intensity of red, green, and blue light emittedby the one or more lighting elements 110. The RGB color code maycorrelate directly to the intensity and number of red, green, and blueLEDs powered. Alternatively, conversions may be performed by theunderlying control program 230 for calculating the RGB color codeproduced by LEDs of different colors or color-shifted LEDs. This userinterface 452 may further comprise the brightness virtual slider 460.

The fan control process 300 and a user interface 464 therefor are shownin FIG. 19 . The fan control user interface 464 comprises an automationvirtual toggle 466 and a timer virtual slider 468. The automationvirtual toggle 466 switches an automatic fan setting between on and offstates. In the on state, the fan 102 vents air into a subject roomaccording to an automatic process (e.g., periodic interval, humiditydetection, etc.). The timer virtual slider 468 allows a user to slide avirtual button to a number of minutes of ventilation desired (e.g., inthe example shown in FIG. 19 , the timer virtual slider 468 indicates aselection of thirty minutes of fan run time.

FIG. 20 the scene generation process 320 presents a user with scenegeneration user interfaces 470, 472, 474. The scene generation userinterface 470 is similar to the lighting control user interface 450, butfurther includes a saturation virtual slider 476 and one or more virtualradio buttons 478 for selecting and storing a particular color in ahierarchical order for production of a scene. The scene generation userinterface 472 further includes first and second virtual buttons 480, 482for selecting the duration of a color and the desire transition from onestored color setting to the next (e.g., calm, abrupt, steady, etc.). Thescene generation user interface 474 provides a text capture box 484 fornaming a newly generated scene. The newly generated scene may be storedin a memory module 236 disposed within the one or more mobile devices232, the wall-mounted controller 200, remotely (such as on a cloudserver), and/or physically within the housing 104 (e.g., on the one ormore PCBs 114) of the illuminated ventilation apparatus 100.

FIG. 21 is a control diagram illustrating a feedback process 340 thatprovides feedback in connection with the ventilation and lighting system100. At step 342, a user may send feedback to a developer of the controlprogram 230 and user interfaces.

FIG. 22 depicts a mobile application icon 360 for initializing thecontrol program 230 through a mobile device user interface. Furtherexample user interfaces are depicted in FIGS. 23-37 . The example userinterfaces of FIGS. 23-28 comprise similar virtual buttons to the userinterfaces shown in FIGS. 16-21 . An additional scene generation userinterface 486. Here, a color wheel for selecting an RGB color code isreplaced with a text input for red, green, and blue values. Further,this scene generation user interface 486 facilitate user selection ofthe desired color model for use in developing a scene through drop downmenu 488.

User interfaces 500, 502, 504, 506 of FIG. 29 deliver “welcome” and“setup” information to a user upon initialization of the control program230 through the one or more mobile devices 232. FIG. 30 depicts exampleuser interfaces 508, 510, 512, 514 for controlling the lightingelement(s) 110, while FIG. 31 depicts example user interfaces 516, 518,520, 522 for controlling the fan 102. Further example user interfaces524, 526, 528, 530, 532 for selecting a color or scene are depicted inFIG. 32 . In the example user interfaces 530, 532 save and/or deleteprompts 534, 536 may guide user interaction with the user interfaces530, 532. Likewise, example user interfaces 538, 540, 542, 544, 546, 548are shown in FIG. 33 . “Play” and “save” virtual buttons 550, 552 areincluded in the user interfaces 546, 548 for saving and orediting/deleting a scene.

FIG. 34 depicts example user interfaces 554, 556, 558, 560 for adjustingsettings of the control program 230. Additionally, the user interfaces556, 558 give a user the option of tracking and viewing energy usage ofthe illuminated ventilation apparatus 100.

FIG. 35 depicts example user interfaces 562, 564 for wirelessly pairingthe illuminated ventilation apparatus 100 with the one or more mobiledevices 232 when said devices run the iOS™ operating system. Likewise,FIG. 36 depicts example user interfaces 566, 568, 570 for wirelesslypairing the illuminated ventilation apparatus 100 with the one or moremobile devices 232 when said devices run the Android™ operating system.In the user interface 568, a plurality of illuminated ventilationsystems appear available for establishing a wireless connection. Inexample embodiments, the control program 230 may manage more than oneilluminate ventilation system. Further, FIG. 37 depicts example userinterfaces 572, 574, 576 that may be presented to the user fortroubleshooting a connection between the illuminated ventilationapparatus 100 and the mobile device 232.

The embodiment(s) detailed hereinabove may be combined in full or inpart, with any alternative embodiment(s) described.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The above disclosure may represent an improvement in the art becausecontrol of a lighting system incorporated into a ventilating fan mayincrease efficiencies, provide desirable aesthetic improvements, and/orallow for user customization of spaces where both a fan and a light arewanted.

The above disclosure may represent an improvement in the art becausecustomization of exterior patterns and lighting solutions as applied toventilating fans may increase spatial efficiencies, increase aestheticappeal, and/or share electrical connections between the componentsthereof.

While some implementations have been illustrated and described, numerousmodifications come to mind without significantly departing from thespirit of the disclosure and the scope of protection is only limited bythe scope of the accompanying claims.

Example System Architecture

Architecturally, the representative technology can be deployed anywhere.For example, it may be preferable to operate between one or more devicesor across a network of devices controlled by a server. The mobiledevices and networks implementing the ventilation and lighting system100 preferably have memory and bandwidth suitable for storing andtransmitting information about the scenes and control inputs receivedfrom users. Additionally, a visual display for presenting one or moregraphical user interfaces 400 (see FIGS. 16-20 and 22-37 ) to the useris advantageous. Networking components, including network connections,between and amongst the one or more mobile devices, a network, and theventilation and lighting system 100 may be wired and/or wireless andsuitable for facilitating communications between the one or more mobiledevices and the fan and lighting elements of the ventilation and lightsystem.

Example embodiments of the disclosed system and method 100 are describedherein throughout with reference to FIGS. 1-37 . In certain aspects, thesystem and method 100 may be implemented using hardware or a combinationof software and hardware, either by dedicated devices and networks orintegrated into other computing resource(s) or distributed across aplurality of computer resources (e.g., the one or more mobile devices).Computing device(s) and networks implementing the system and method 100may be, for example, desktop computers, mobile computers, tabletcomputers (e.g., e-book readers), mobile devices (e.g., a smartphone orpersonal digital assistant), set top boxes (e.g., for a television),video game consoles, or any other devices having appropriate processor,memory, and communications capabilities for gathering, storing,processing, and transmitting the data associated with the system andmethod 100.

The embodiment(s) detailed hereinabove may be combined in full or inpart, with any alternative embodiment(s) described.

The disclosed systems and methods can be implemented with a computersystem, using, for example, software, hardware, or a combination ofboth, either in a dedicated server, or integrated into another entity,or distributed across multiple entities. An exemplary computer systemincludes a bus or other communication mechanism for communicatinginformation, and a processor coupled with the bus for processinginformation. The processor may be locally or remotely coupled with thebus. By way of example, the computer system may be implemented with oneor more processors. The processor may be a general-purposemicroprocessor, a microcontroller, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), anApplication Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field ProgrammableGate Array (FPGA), a Programmable Logic Device (PLD), a controller, astate machine, gated logic, discrete hardware components, or any othersuitable entity that can perform calculations or other manipulations ofinformation. The computer system also includes a memory, such as aRandom Access Memory (RAM), a flash memory, a Read Only Memory (ROM), aProgrammable Read-Only Memory (PROM), an Erasable PROM (EPROM),registers, a hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD, or any othersuitable storage device, coupled to bus for storing information andinstructions to be executed by processor.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the disclosed systemcan be implemented using a computer system in response to a processorexecuting one or more sequences of one or more instructions contained inmemory. Such instructions may be read into memory from anothermachine-readable medium, such as data storage device. Execution of thesequences of instructions contained in main memory causes the processorto perform the process steps described herein. One or more processors ina multi-processing arrangement may also be employed to execute thesequences of instructions contained in memory. In alternativeimplementations, hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of or incombination with software instructions to implement variousimplementations of the present disclosure. Thus, implementations of thepresent disclosure are not limited to any specific combination ofhardware circuitry and software. According to one aspect of thedisclosure, the disclosed system can be implemented using one or manyremote elements in a computer system (e.g., cloud computing), such as aprocessor that is remote from other elements of the exemplary computersystem described above.

A reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “oneand only one” unless specifically stated, but rather “one or more.” Theterm “some” refers to one or more. Underlined and/or italicized headingsand subheadings are used for convenience only, do not limit the subjecttechnology, and are not referred to in connection with theinterpretation of the description of the subject technology. Relationalterms such as first and second and the like may be used to distinguishone entity or action from another without necessarily requiring orimplying any actual such relationship or order between such entities oractions. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements ofthe various configurations described throughout this disclosure that areknown or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the artare expressly incorporated herein by reference and intended to beencompassed by the subject technology. Moreover, nothing disclosedherein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whethersuch disclosure is explicitly recited in the above description.

All references, including publications, patent applications, andpatents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the sameextent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicatedto be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entiretyherein.

The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”)provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the disclosureand does not pose a limitation on the scope of the disclosure unlessotherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construedas indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice ofthe disclosure.

Numerous modifications to the present disclosure will be apparent tothose skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Preferredembodiments of this disclosure are described herein, including the bestmode known to the inventors for carrying out the disclosure. It shouldbe understood that the illustrated embodiments are exemplary only, andshould not betaken as limiting the scope of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A ventilation and lighting system, comprising: amain housing defining an inlet and an outlet a fan disposed within ahousing and operable to move air through the inlet and outlet; a grilleconfigured to be located at the main housing inlet, the grillecomprising a plate defining a plurality of apertures through which airmay move; a cavity defined in the grille; one or more lighting elementsarranged within the cavity and an optical component covering the cavity,wherein the one or more lighting elements are situated within the cavitysuch that light developed by the one or more lighting elements isdirected towards the fan and away from the optical component so that thelight mixes within the cavity before the light transmits through theoptical component covering the cavity; and a controller that coordinatesoperation of the fan and the one or more lighting elements from a remotelocation.
 2. The ventilation and lighting system of claim 1, comprising:at least one wireless connection, wherein the at least one wirelessconnection operatively couples the controller to the fan and the one ormore lighting elements.
 3. The ventilation and lighting system of claim2, comprising: one or more mobile devices operatively coupled with atleast one of the controller, the fan, and the one or more lightingelements.
 4. The ventilation and lighting system of claim 3, comprising:a control program for controlling the fan and one or more lightingelements, wherein the control program is stored on a memory moduledisposed in one of the one or more mobile devices, the controller, andthe main housing.
 5. The ventilation and lighting system of claim 4,wherein user inputs are received at both the one or more mobile devicesand the controller, and the control program synchronizes control of thesystem in response to the user inputs.
 6. The ventilation and lightingsystem of claim 4, comprising one or more scenes stored within thememory module and executable by the control program to coordinateoperation of the fan and the one or more lighting elements during apredetermined period.
 7. A method for controlling a ventilation andlighting system, comprising: gathering user inputs; developing one ormore scenes in response to user inputs; storing the one or more scenesin a memory module for execution by a processor; and adjusting a fan andone or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) to implement the one or morescenes in response to a user selection requesting execution by theprocessor of the one or more scenes, wherein at least one of the one ormore scenes includes a sweeping pattern of colors.
 8. The method ofclaim 7, comprising: pre-programing one or more scenes in the memorymodule; and implementing the one or more pre-programmed scenes inresponse to the user selection.
 9. The method of claim 8, comprising:gathering user inputs from a wall-mounted controller; and adjusting thefan and the one or more LEDs in response to the wall-mounted controller.10. The method of claim 9, comprising: presenting one or more virtualbuttons to a user; and gathering the user inputs from the one or morevirtual buttons.
 11. The ventilation and lighting system of claim 1, thecontroller comprising scene control configured to define one or morescenes each defining predefined light control and fan control, wherein,the light control comprises predefined settings of one or more of color,duration, intensity, saturation, and correlated color temperature andthe fan control comprises predefined settings of one or more of durationand power.
 12. The ventilation and lighting system of claim 1, whereinthe bottom surface of the main housing is reflective.
 13. The method ofclaim 7, wherein the scenes comprise predefined light control and fancontrol, wherein the light control comprises predefined settings of oneor more of color, duration, intensity, saturation, and correlated colortemperature and the fan control comprises predefined settings of one ormore of duration and power.
 14. The method of claim 10, synchronizingadjustments initiated by the one or more virtual buttons and thewall-mounted controller.
 15. The method of claim 7, wherein the sweepingpattern of colors is defined according to one or more of the userpreferences.
 16. The method of claim 7, wherein the sweeping pattern ofcolors is defined according to one or more of the user preferences asdefined by one or more of the user inputs
 17. A ventilation and lightingsystem, comprising: a main housing defining an inlet and an outlet a fandisposed within a housing and operable to move air through the inlet andoutlet; a grille configured to be located at the main housing inlet, thegrille comprising a plate defining a plurality of apertures throughwhich air may move; a cavity defined in the grille; one or more lightingelements arranged within the cavity wherein the one or more lightingelements are situated within the cavity such that light developed by theone or more lighting elements is directed into the cavity so that thelight mixes within the cavity before the light exits the cavity; and acontroller that coordinates operation of the fan and the one or morelighting elements from a remote location.
 18. The ventilation andlighting system of claim 17, the controller comprising scene controlconfigured to define one or more scenes each defining predefined lightcontrol and fan control, wherein, the light control comprises predefinedsettings of one or more of color, duration, intensity, saturation, andcorrelated color temperature and the fan control comprises predefinedsettings of one or more of duration and power.
 19. The ventilation andlighting system of claim 17, wherein the bottom surface of the mainhousing is reflective.
 20. The ventilation and lighting system of claim17, wherein at least one of the one or more lighting elements is a LED.